Impatiens plant named ‘Silt Whit’

ABSTRACT

A new  Impatiens  plant named ‘Silt Whit,’ particularly distinguished by large, double-type flowers, white flower color, deep green foliage, compact growth, and tight, low mounding plant habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Impatienswalleriana.

Varietal denomination: ‘Silt Whit’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Impatiens, botanically known asImpatiens walleriana, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name‘Silt Whit.’

‘Silt Whit’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar‘Silt Whit’ has white flowers of rose-like shape, deep green foliage,and low, mounding, and compact plant habit.

‘Silt Whit’ originated from a hybridization made in August 2005 in acontrolled breeding program in Andijk, Netherlands. The female parentwas an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as ‘ID03-825-2’ withcherry-red colored, single-type flowers.

The male parent of ‘Silt Whit’ was an unpatented hybrid seedlingidentified as ‘ID03-953-5’ with salmon flower color and relatively lightgreen foliage.

The resulting seeds were sown in early November 2005. ‘Silt Whit’ wasselected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated crossin December 2005 in a controlled environment in Andijk, Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Silt Whit’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in thespring of 2006 in a controlled environment in Andijk, Netherlands.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in the spring of 2006 in Andijk, Netherlands, and continuingthereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for ‘Silt Whit’ are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Silt Whit’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Canada onDec. 24, 2007 and in the European Union on Jul. 21, 2008. ‘Silt Whit’has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to thefiling of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Silt Whit’ with colors being as true as possiblewith an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing, taken inlate May 2008, shows a 15 week old greenhouse grown plant of the newvariety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Hillscheid, Germany, mainly in late May2008 on 14–15 week old plants that were growing on benches in agreenhouse. Culture of these plants had started around February 10 whenrooted cuttings were potted in 12 cm pots and grown at moderately warmtemperatures, between 15 and 20° C. in daytime.

-   Color Chart used: Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.)    2001.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown in a greenhouse in Hillscheid, Germany. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basiccharacteristics of the new variety. The combination of thesecharacteristics distinguishes this Impatiens as a new and distinctvariety.

-   -   1. Relatively large, white, double-type flowers    -   2. Floriferous habit    -   3. Deep green foliage, ovate to elliptical leaves    -   4. Small to medium plant size    -   5. Tight, low, and mounding plant habit    -   6. Suitable as a patio plant, for containers and even indoors as        a flowering potted plant

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Silt Whit’ differs from ‘Didi Appleblossom,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.15,440, in that ‘SiltWhit’ has a purer white flower color, deeper greenfoliage, and a more compact and lower plant habit.

-   Plant:    -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Mounding, nearly semi-spherical,            tight, under medium sized.        -   Plant height.—About 8 cm.        -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—About 10 cm.        -   Plant width.—25–27 cm.        -   Plant size in late summer (30 weeks old).—15–20 cm in height            and 30–35 cm in diameter.-   Stem:    -   -   Number of branches.—16–18.        -   Color of stem.—Light green, RHS 145B, no anthocyanin.        -   Length of stem.—8–12 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5–0.7 cm.        -   Length of internodes.—0.5–2.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangment.—Mainly alternate, near tip in whorls.        -   Immature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137B.        -   Lower surface.—RHS 138B.        -   Mature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137B.        -   Lower surface.—RHS 138B.        -   Length.—5.5–6.5 cm.        -   Width.—3.5–4.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to rhomboid.        -   Base shape.—Acute or attenuate.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Slightly crenate, ciliate.        -   Texture.—Dull surface, glabrous, smooth, apart from the            veins protruding on the lower side.        -   Color of veins, upper surface.—Indistinct, RHS 144A.        -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 144A to 144C at base.-   Petiole:    -   -   Color upper surface.—RHS 144B.        -   Color lower surface.—RHS 145B.        -   Length.—About 1–2 cm.        -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Texture.—Mainly glabrous.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Duration of flowering.—Continuous flowering throughout the            summer.        -   Inflorescence type.—Appear from the upper leaf nodes of the            stem, usually a peduncle bears two flowers.        -   Number of flowers and buds per stem.—Ten or more in various            stages of development.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Color.—RHS 145B to 145C.        -   Length.—About 2 cm.        -   Diameter.—2–2.5 mm.        -   Texture.—Flexible, glabrous.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Color of pedicel.—RHS 145A to 145B.        -   Length of pedicel.—1.5–2.3 cm.        -   Diameter of pedicel.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Flower:    -   -   Form.—Double-type, many petalled.        -   Shape of corolla.—Round outline, rose-shape.        -   Number of petals.—About 30–40.        -   Overall color.—Mainly white, a trace of cream may appear            with young flowers in the middle of the flower.        -   Upper surface color.—Whiter than RHS 155D; only very young            petals may appear slightly cream white: RHS N155B.        -   Markings.—None, apart from a slight greenish hue in the            middle of the banner petal: RHS 157B.        -   Lower surface color.—Whiter than RHS 155D.        -   Diameter of flower.—4.5–4.8 cm.        -   Depth (vertical diameter) of flower.—2.2–2.5 cm.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Longevity.—Flowers last 6–8 days in greenhouse.        -   Rain tolerance.—Due to the tight double flower-type somewhat            susceptible to botrytis mould; flower quality will be            improved if plants are placed under rain protection.-   Petals:    -   -   Shape.—Banner petal cordate, lateral and lower petals            obovate.        -   Apex shape.—Emarginate for the top petal, rounded for the            other ones.        -   Base.—Mostly acute, rounded for the top petal.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Size of outer petals (inner petals are diminishing in            size).—        -   Size of top petal.—Length: 1.8 cm. Width: 3.0 cm.        -   Size of lateral petals.—Length: 2.2 cm. Width: 1.8–2.0 cm.        -   Size of lower petals.—Length: 2.2–2.4 cm. Width: 2.1–2.2 cm.        -   Petal texture.—Glabrous, smooth.-   Spur:    -   -   Shape.—Elongate, slating downwards.        -   Color.—Pale green, RHS 145C.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm, thinner towards tip.-   Bud (just before opening):    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Color.—White, RHS 155D to RHS N155D.        -   Length.—1.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5–1.7 cm.-   Calyx:    -   -   Number of sepals.—5, one of which is transformed into a            spur.        -   Sepal shape.—The largest one with the underside of the            banner petal, lateral sepal narrow and lanceolate, lower            sepals fused, ovate, and bearing the spur.        -   Apex shape.—Acute or acuminate.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Color of lateral sepals.—Medium green, RHS 143B.        -   Color of lower sepals.—Pale green, RHS 145D to 157A.        -   Length of lateral sepals.—0.4 cm.        -   Width of lateral sepals.—0.15 cm.        -   Length of lower sepals.—1.3 cm.        -   Width of lower sepals.—0.7 cm.        -   Texture.—Most parts film-like, and semi-transparent,            glabrous.-   Reproductive organs: Usually none, only occasionally in rudimental    form, as all stamen are transformed into petals.    -   -   Fertility/seed set.—Infertile, no seed set observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: No particular disease resistance or    susceptibility has not been observed on this hybrid.

1. A new and distinct variety of Impatiens plant named ‘Silt Whit,’substantially as illustrated and described herein.